Winter Ops Drill: How PIT Stays Open When Storms Hit

From multiple equipment pieces to snowplow 'Conga Line,' PIT crews are always prepared

By Daniel Lagiovane

Published October 28, 2024

Read Time: 3 mins

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When taking a vacation or business trip, there are many things you can plan for. But in the winter, one hard-to-predict factor can seriously disrupt your plans: the weather.

Fortunately, preparing for snowstorms is always on the radar at Pittsburgh International Airport. That’s why, on a sunny 50-degree morning last Thursday, the Field Maintenance Department, Mechanics and Airport Operations held their annual Winter Operations Drill.

Drills and attention to detail are why PIT has kept at least one runway operational throughout all season for almost 30 straight years and is a preferred FAA location to send flights when East Coast airports are snowed in.

“We take great pride in keeping the airport open and safe in all types of weather, improving airline on-time rates and enhancing customer service,” said Jim Moorhead, vice president of Airport Operations, Allegheny County Airport Authority. “It’s a matter of personal pride of what we accomplish each winter and how our industry peers view us.”

The latest drill, which reviewed the ACAA’s Snow and Ice Control Plan, included a simulated winter storm using multiple pieces of equipment (brooms, plows, blowers, deicers and sand trucks) on the airfield.